Principal Scientist, Viral Vaccines - £60,778 p.a. + benefits

Job summary

We are currently looking for a Principal Scientist, Viral Vaccines to join our Research & Development Function within the Science & Research group.

This is a full-time opportunity, on a permanent basis. The role will be based in South Mimms, Hertfordshire.

Who are we?

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency enhance and improve the health of millions of people every day through the effective regulation of medicines and medical devices, underpinned by science and research.

The Science and Research group delivers public health impact through world-leading research and innovation to support clinical trials and availability of novel medicines. It comprises 4 sub-Groups: Research and Development, Standards Lifecycle, Control Testing and Health & Safety and Quality Assurance.

The Research and Development (R&D) group delivers an internationally leading programme that supports development of and access to novel biological medicines, biological standards, diagnostics, vaccines, biotherapeutics and advanced therapy medicinal products.

Job description

What’s the role?

This is a permanent position within the Viral Vaccine (R&D) group, to support vaccines and therapeutics development and evaluation, by developing biological reference materials and robust assays to assess vaccine performance with a focus on priority viral families and pandemic preparedness. The role brings opportunities to lead new research initiatives, contribute to global programmes, and collaborate with partners including World Health Organization (WHO), Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), and academia. Ideal for someone who can combine scientific expertise with strategic vision and strong stakeholder engagement.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead and manage viral vaccine R&D projects to support the development of safe and effective vaccines, including the production of reference materials to facilitate the evaluation of vaccine immunogenicity and potency.

• Develop, validate and implement assays to support vaccine evaluation, ensuring all work is delivered under appropriate quality management systems and meets regulatory and scientific standards.

• Develop an independent and innovative research programme in viral vaccine science, providing strategic scientific leadership and contributing to the advancement of new approaches and technologies.

• Represent the organisation and engage with global stakeholders—including CEPI, WHO, regulatory labs and academia—through expert advice, collaboration, training, scientific publications, and presentations.

Who are we looking for?

Our successful candidate will have:

• A PhD in Virology or related subject with demonstrable experience in leading relevant research in virology and/or vaccines.

• Broad technical skills in molecular and cellular biology working with pathogens at containment level 2, and ideally CL3, including serological and infectivity assays.

• Experience in leading, designing and conducting and successfully delivering multi stakeholder projects.

• Adaptability and organisational skills working multiple concurrent projects and priorities under quality management system.

• Excellent communication skills, with a strong track record in scientific report writing, delivering clear presentations, and contributing to publications in peer reviewed journals.

Person specification

Method of assessment: A=Application, T=Test, I=Interview, P=Presentation

Behaviour Criteria:

• Communicating and Influencing (A, I)

• Leadership (I)

• Delivering at Pace (A, I)

Experience Criteria:

• Experience in leading, designing and conducting research and development in relevant areas (A)

• Experience of successfully delivering multi-stakeholder projects (A)

• Excellent ability to analyse complex data sets and generate clear written reports (A)

• Experience working with a quality management system (A)

• Experience of working with pathogens, preferably high consequence viruses, and have been involved in any stage of vaccine development or evaluation (A, I)

• Demonstrable aptitude for innovation in scientific research; in scope, direction and technical approaches. Independence of thought together with rigorous analytic skills when new projects and changes of research direction are required(I, P)

Technical Criteria:

• A PhD or equivalent (e.g. MSc and relevant experience) together with significant experience in leading relevant virus research and biological standardisation (A)

• Advanced understanding of public health needs pertaining to viruses / viral disease / vaccines (A, I)

• Broad knowledge of the technical field in which viruses and viral vaccines may be assessed such as potency assessment, harmonisation of tests and product standards, including awareness of technological advances that may influence the above (A, I)

• Extensive experience of working with viruses at ACDP HG2, and ideally ACDP HG3, and an excellent understanding of the control measures & regulations underpinning the safe working at such biological containment levels (A, I)

• Highly skilled in technical assays used for assessing a wide range of pathogens and vaccines including cell-based assays such as authentic viruses or alternative systems (PV, VLP), serological methods, molecular techniques for cloning, diagnostics, pathogen characterisation (e.g. sequencing) (A, I)

Strengths Criteria

• Adaptable (I)

• Team Leader (I)

If you would like to find out more about this fantastic opportunity, please read our Job Description and Person Specification!

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Benefits

Alongside your salary of £60,778, Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency contributes £17,607 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Annual Leave: 25 days annual leave on entry, rising by one day for each completed year of service to a maximum of 30 days and pro-rata for part-time staff. PLUS 8 bank holidays
• Privilege Leave: 1 day
• Hours of Work: 37 hours (net) per week for full time staff in all geographical locations, including London and pro rata for part-time staff
• Occupational Sick Pay (OSP): One month full pay/one month half pay on entry, rising by one month for each completed year of service to a maximum of five months full pay/five months half pay
• Mobility: Mobility clause in contracts allowing staff to be mobile across the Civil Service
• Civil Service Pension Scheme. Please see the link for further information http://www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk/ For enquiries relating to the Civil Service Pension Schemes please contact MyCSP's Pension Service Centre directly on 0300 123 6666
• Flexible working to ensure staff maintain a healthy work-life balance
• Interest free season ticket loan or bike loan
• Employee Assistance Services and access to the Civil Service Benevolent Fund
• Eligibility to join the Civil Service Motoring Association (CSMA)
• Variety of staff and Civil Service clubs
• On-going learning and development

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

The selection process:

We use the Civil Service Success Profiles to assess our candidates, find out more here.

• Online application form, including questions based on the Behaviour, Experience and Technical Success Profiles. Please ensure all application questions are completed in full; your application may not be considered if any responses are left blank. Our applications are CV blind, and our Hiring Managers will not be able to access your CV when reviewing your application.

• Presentation, to be prepared as part of your interview, with further information being supplied when you reach this stage.

• Interview, which can include questions based on the Behaviour, Experience, Technical and Strengths Success Profiles.

In the instance that we receive a high number of applications, we will hold an initial sift based on the lead criteria of A PhD or equivalent (e.g. MSc and relevant experience) together with significant experience in leading relevant virus research and biological standardisation.

If you require any disability related adjustments at any point during the process, please contact careers@mhra.gov.uk as soon as possible.

Closing date: 1st March 2026

Shortlisting date: from 9th March 2026

Interview date: from 16th March 2026

If you need assistance applying for this role or have any other questions, please contact careers@mhra.gov.uk

Candidates will be subject to UK immigration requirements as well as Civil Service nationality rules. Further information on whether you are able to apply is available here.

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check as well as animal rights and pro-life activism checks. People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks.

Certain roles within the MHRA will require post holders to have vaccinations, and in some circumstances, routine health surveillance. These roles include:

• Laboratory-based roles working directly with known pathogens

• Maintenance roles, particularly those required to work in laboratory settings

• Roles that involve visiting other establishments where vaccination is required

• Roles required to travel overseas where specific vaccination may be required.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

Any move to the MHRA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility here.

Individuals appointed on level transfer will retain their existing salary and are responsible for ensuring they fully understand the financial implications of any potential move and the impact (if any) on their terms. If an individual is in any doubt, they should seek clarification before accepting a job offer.

Staff joining on promotion will receive up to a 10% increase of their current basic salary, or the pay band minimum, whichever is the greater.

The individual will not retain any allowances paid by the former department/Agency, unless there are special circumstances, such as a reserved right to those allowances on transfer.

Successful candidates may be subject to annual Occupational Health reviews dependent on role requirements. If you have any queries, please contact careers@mhra.gov.uk.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : The Resourcing Team
• Email : Careers@mhra.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : Careers@mhra.gov.uk

Further information

In accordance with the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles our recruitment and selection processes are underpinned by the requirement of selection for appointment on the basis of merit by a fair and open competition. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact the Resourcing Team at Careers@mhra.gov.uk, in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive you can contact the Civil Service Commission at: civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk - info@csc.gov.uk - Civil Service Commission Room G/8 1 Horse Guards Road London SW1A 2HQ